Biochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological attributes of caper (Capparis ovata) flowering buds and berries pickles.

Capparis ovata is a natural plant that grows widely in Turkey and its flowering buds and berry pickle are used in traditional medicine. Thus, the current study was expanded to evaluate the biochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological aspects of the Capparis ovata water extract (COWE). To determine the biochemical properties of COWE, mineral and fatty acid content, elemental analysis, flavonoid/phenolic content, radical-scavenging capacity, and pesticide analysis were performed. Furthermore, to find out whether it had anti-inflammatory properties, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) luciferase activity tests were conducted. Whole-genome transcriptomic profiling was carried out at a dose level of 500 mg/kg COWE to understand its pharmacological effect. Transaminases in serum were tested, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was done using a custom design array that included the stress and molecular toxicology pathway to establish its toxicological qualities. As a result of the evaluations, it was observed that COWE has a high mineral and unsaturated fatty acid content, flavonoid/phenolic content, and radical-scavenging ability. It significantly inhibited NF-κB transcriptional activity as well as inflammatory cytokine expression in T-lymphoblast cells. Whole-genome transcriptomic profiling depicted that COWE modulates immune responses by upregulating natural killer cell activation, cellular response to type I interferon, B-cell proliferation and differentiation, and Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathways. Molecular Toxicology Pathfinder RT2 Profiler PCR array analysis revealed that COWE at or lower dose of 500 mg/kg/day did not cause a comparatively adverse effect. According to the findings, COWE is a rich source of nutrients and can be used as an adjunct therapy for various inflammatory diseases.

Complementary medicines used in ulcerative colitis and unintended interactions with cytochrome P450-dependent drug-metabolizing enzymes.

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an idiopathic, chronic inflammatory disease with multiple genetic and a variety of environmental risk factors. Although current drugs significantly aid in controlling the disease, many people have led to the application of complementary therapies due to the common belief that they are natural and safe, as well as due to the consideration of the side effect of current drugs. Curcumin, cannabinoids, wheatgrass, Boswellia, wormwood and Aloe vera are among the most commonly used complementary medicines in UC. However, these treatments may have adverse and toxic effects due to unintended interactions with drugs or drug-metabolizing enzymes such as cytochrome P450s; thus, being ignorant of these interactions might cause deleterious effects with severe consequences. In addition, the lack of complete and controlled long-term studies with the use of these complementary medicines regarding drug metabolism pose additional risk and unsafety. Thus, this review aims to give an overview of the potential interactions of drug-metabolizing enzymes with the complementary botanical medicines used in UC, drawing attention to possible adverse effects.

Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles Biosynthesized Using Fresh Green Walnut Shell in Microwave Environment and their Anticancer Effect on Breast Cancer Cells.

In this study, cerium oxide nanoparticles (CONPs) were synthesized using fresh green walnut shell extract in microwave environment. The morphology and structure of the CONPs were determined using ultraviolet-visible (UV/VIS), attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Crystal purple staining, Annexin V-FITC detection, RT-PCR, P53, and NF-κB luciferase reporter assays were performed to evaluate the mechanism of action of CONPs in breast cancer cell lines (MCF7). The biosynthesized CONPs showed cytotoxic effects and induced apoptosis in MCF7 cells. Furthermore, CONPs induced P53 expression and suppressed NF-κB gene expression, both of which were confirmed using reporter assays. Based on the present results, it was concluded that CONPs can induce apoptosis by acting on P53 at the transcriptional level and may cause cell death by suppressing NF-κB-mediated transcription.

Suppression of Inflammatory Cytokines Expression with Bitter Melon (Momordica Charantia) in TNBS-instigated Ulcerative Colitis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of Momordica charantia (MCh), along with a standard drug prednisolone, in a rat model of colitis induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). METHODS: After the induction of the experimental colitis, the animals were treated with MCh (4 g/kg/day) for 14 consecutive days by intragastric gavage. The colonic tissue expression levels of C-C motif chemokine ligand 17 (CCL-17), interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-23, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), were determined at both mRNA and protein levels to estimate the effect of MCh. Besides, colonic specimens were analyzed histopathologically after staining with hematoxylin and eosin. RESULTS: The body weights from TNBS-instigated colitis rats were found to be significantly lower than untreated animals. Also, the IFN-γ, IL-1ß, IL-6, Il-23, TNF-α, CCL-17, and NF-kB mRNA and protein levels were increased significantly from 1.86-4.91-fold and 1.46-5.50-fold, respectively, in the TNBS-instigated colitis group as compared to the control. Both the MCh and prednisolone treatment significantly reduced the bodyweight loss. It also restored the induced colonic tissue levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, IFN-γ, and TNF-α to normal levels seen in untreated animals. These results were also supported with the histochemical staining of the colonic tissues from both control and treated animals. CONCLUSION: The presented data strongly suggests that MCh has the anti-inflammatory effect that might be modulated through vitamin D metabolism. It is the right candidate for the treatment of UC as an alternative and complementary therapeutics.

Triterpenoids and steroids isolated from Anatolian Capparis ovata and their activity on the expression of inflammatory cytokines.

CONTEXT: Capparis L. (Capparaceae) is grown worldwide. Caper has been used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases including rheumatism, kidney, liver, stomach, as well as headache and toothache. OBJECTIVE: To isolate and elucidate of the secondary metabolites of the C. ovata extracts which are responsible for their anti-inflammatory activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Buds, fruits, flowers, leaves and stems of C. ovata Desf. was dried, cut to pieces, then ground separately. From their dichloromethane/hexane (1:1) extracts, eight compounds were isolated and their structures were elucidated by NMR, mass spectroscopic techniques. The effects of compounds on the expression of inflammatory cytokines in SH-SY5Y cell lines were examined by qRT-PCR ranging from 4 to 96 µM. Cell viability was expressed as a percentage of the control, untreated cells. RESULTS: This is a first report on isolation of triterpenoids and steroids from C. ovata with anti-inflammatory activity. One new triterpenoid ester olean-12-en-3ß,28-diol, 3ß-pentacosanoate (1) and two new natural steroids 5α,6α-epoxycholestan-3ß-ol (5) and 5ß,6ß-epoxycholestan-3ß-ol (6) were elucidated besides known compounds; oleanolic acid (2), ursolic acid (3), ß-sitosterol (4), stigmast-5,22-dien-3ß-myristate (7) and bismethyl-octylphthalate (8). mRNA expression levels as EC10 of all the tested seven genes were decreased, particularly CXCL9 (19.36-fold), CXCL10 (8.14-fold), and TNF (18.69) by the treatment of 26 µM of compound 1 on SH-SY5Y cells. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Triterpenoids and steroids isolated from C. ovata were found to be moderate-strong anti-inflammatory compounds. Particularly, compounds 1 and 3 were found to be promising therapeutic agents in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Prophylactic and therapeutic roles of oleanolic acid and its derivatives in several diseases.

Oleanolic acid (OA) and its derivatives are widely found in diverse plants and are naturally effective pentacyclic triterpenoid compounds with broad prophylactic and therapeutic roles in various diseases such as ulcerative colitis, multiple sclerosis, metabolic disorders, diabetes, hepatitis and different cancers. This review assembles and presents the latest in vivo reports on the impacts of OA and OA derivatives from various plant sources and the biological mechanisms of OA activities. Thus, this review presents sufficient data proposing that OA and its derivatives are potential alternative and complementary therapies for the treatment and management of several diseases.

Capparis ovata treatment suppresses inflammatory cytokine expression and ameliorates experimental allergic encephalomyelitis model of multiple sclerosis in C57BL/6 mice.

Since ancient times, Capparis species have been widely used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases. Our recent investigations have suggested Capparis ovata's potential anti-neuroinflammatory application for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). The present study was designed to precisely determine the underlying mechanism of its anti-neuroinflammatory effect in a mouse model of MS. C. ovata water extract (COWE) was prepared using the plant's fruit, buds, and flower parts (Turkish Patent Institute, PT 2012/04,093). We immunized female C57BL/6J mice with MOG35-55/CFA. COWE was administered at a daily dose of 500mg/kg by oral gavage either from the day of immunization (T1) or at disease onset (T2) for 21days. Gene expression analysis was performed using a Mouse Multiple Sclerosis RT² Profiler PCR Array, and further determinations and validations of the identified genes were performed using qPCR. Whole-genome transcriptome profiling was analyzed using Agilent SurePrint G3 Mouse GE 8X60K microarrays. Immunohistochemical staining was applied to brain sections of the control and treated mice to examine the degree of degeneration. COWE was further fractionated and analyzed phytochemically using the Zivak Tandem Gold Triple Quadrupole LC/MS-MS system. COWE remarkably suppressed the development of EAE in T1, and the disease activity was completely inhibited. In the T2 group, the maximal score was significantly reduced compared with that of the parallel EAE group. The COWE suppression of EAE was associated with a significantly decreased expression of genes that are important in inflammatory signaling, such as TNFα, IL6, NF-κB, CCL5, CXCL9, and CXCK10. On the other hand, the expression of genes involved in myelination/remyelination was significantly increased. Immunohistochemical analysis further supported these effects, showing that the number of infiltrating immune cells was decreased in the brains of COWE-treated animals. In addition, differential expression profiling of the transcriptome revealed that COWE treatment caused the down regulation of a group of genes involved in the immune response, inflammatory response, antigen processing and presentation, B-cell-mediated immunity and innate immune response. Collectively, these results suggest anti-neuroinflammatory mechanisms by which COWE treatment delayed and suppressed the development of EAE and ameliorated the disease in mice with persistent clinical signs.

Contribution of ellagic acid on the antioxidant potential of medicinal plant Epilobium hirsutum.

In the present study, the possible role of ellagic acid (EA) on antioxidant potential of Epilobium hirsutum (EH) in rat liver was investigated. Wistar rats were intraperitoneally treated with 37.5 mg/kg of EH and 10 mg/kg of EA for 9 days. Effects of EH and EA on antioxidant [glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutases (SOD)] and Phase II [NADPH quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) and glutathione S-transferases (GSTs)] enzyme activities, as well as protein and mRNA expressions of those, were investigated. Polyphenolic content of EH was determined by LC-MS/MS analysis. EH and EA injection to rats resulted in a significant increase of NQO1 (3.6-fold and 4.7-fold), GPx (1.45-fold), and SOD (1.34-fold and 1.27-fold) enzyme activities, whereas total GST (46% and 57%) and its isoforms,and GST mu (57% and 72%), and GST theta (60% and 68%) activities were significantly decreased. Western-blot and qRT-PCR analysis showed that NQO1 and GPx protein and mRNA expressions were increased significantly (P < 0.0001), whereas GST mu and GST theta were significantly decreased (P < 0.0001).

Inhibitory action of Epilobium hirsutum extract and its constituent ellagic acid on drug-metabolizing enzymes.

Epilobium hirsutum (EH) is a medicinal plant for treating various diseases. Despite its wide usage, there is no available information about its potential influences on drug metabolism. The present study was undertaken to determine the in vivo effects of EH on hepatic CYP2B, CYP2C, CYP2D, and CYP3A enzymes that are primarily involved in drug metabolism. Male Wistar rats were injected intraperitoneally with EH water extract (EHWE) and ellagic acid (EA) at a daily dose of 37.5 and 20 mg/kg, respectively, for 9 days and hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes were assessed at activity, protein and mRNA levels. Erythromycin N-demethylase activity was inhibited by 53 and 21 % in EHWE- and EA-treated rats, respectively. Benzphetamine N-demethylase and 7-benzyloxyresorufin-O-debenzylase activities were decreased by 53 and 43 %, and 57 and 57 % in EHWE-and EA-treated rats, respectively. Moreover, protein levels of CYP2B1, CYP2C6, CYP2D2, and CYP3A1 also decreased by 55, 15, 33, and 82 % as a result of EHWE treatment of rats, respectively. Similarly, CYP2B1, CYP2C6, CYP2D2, and CYP3A1 protein levels decreased by 62, 63, 49, and 37 % with EA treatment, respectively. qRT-PCR analyses also showed that mRNA levels of these enzymes were significantly inhibited with bothEHWE and EA treatments. In conclusion, inhibition of drug clearances leading to drug toxicity because of the lowered activity and expression of drug-metabolizing enzymes might be observed in the people who used EH as complementary herbal remedy that might be contributed by its EA content.

Anticarcinogenic effect and carcinogenic potential of the dietary phenolic acid: o-coumaric acid.

Among hydroxycinnamic acids, caffeic, ferulic and p-coumaric acids have received considerable attention due to their biological activities. However, studies related to the biological activities of o-coumaric acid (OCA) are limited. In this regard, this study was designed to determine the chemopreventive potential of OCA in human breast cancer cells (MCF-7). The EC50 value of OCA was found to be 4.95 mM and was used throughout the study. Caspase-3 protein and mRNA levels increased by 59% and 72%. Similarly, protein and mRNA levels of Bax were increased by 115% and 152%. However, OCA treatment caused 48% and 35% decreases in Bcl-2 protein and mRNA levels. Cyclin D1 and cyclin dependent kinase-2 protein and mRNA levels decreased significantly. Moreover, p53 protein and mRNA levels increased by 178% and 245%, respectively. In addition to p53, PTEN protein and mRNA levels were induced. Although, CYP1A1, CYP1A2 and CY2E1 mRNA levels increased, CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 mRNA levels decreased in response to OCA treatment. These results suggest that OCA demonstrates anticarcinogenic activity on MCF-7 cells by activating multiple pathways. However, it also has high carcinogen activating and drug interaction potential. Therefore, serious precautions must be taken before using OCA.

Epilobium hirsutum alters xenobiotic metabolizing CYP1A1, CYP2E1, NQO1 and GPx activities, mRNA and protein levels in rats.

CONTEXT: Natural products have attracted increasing interests due to their use in flavoring, nutrition, cosmetics, pharmacy and medicine. Epilobium hirsutum L. (Onagraceae) is known for its analgesic, antimicrobial, and antiproliferative activity. CYP1A1 and CYP2E1, xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes, serve as a metabolic activation route yielding reactive metabolites that are eliminated by the action of NQO1 and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzymes. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated in vivo effects of Epilobium hirsutum (EH) on CYP2E1, CYP1A1, NQO1 and GPx activities, protein and mRNA expressions in liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar Albino rats were injected with EH at a dose of 37.5 mg/kg i.p. daily for 9 d. CYP2E1, CYP1A1, NQO1 and GPx activities, protein and mRNA levels were determined by enzyme assays, Western blotting and qPCR, respectively. RESULTS: CYP1A1 associated ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity of control and EH-treated animals were found as 6.54 ± 1.21 and 4.48 ± 1.67 nmol/min/mg, respectively. CYP2E1 associated aniline 4-hydroxylase of control and EH group were 0.537 ± 0.011 and 0.109 ± 0.01 nmol/min/mg, respectively. However, EH treatment increased the GPx and NQO1 activities from 0.069 ± 0.015 to 0.107 ± 0.026 nmol/min/mg and from 163.34 ± 92 to 588.3 ± 14 nmol/min/mg, respectively. Furthermore, protein and mRNA expression analysis revealed that CYP1A1 and CYP2E1 levels were decreased while those of NQO1 and GPx increased after EH treatment. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our current data suggest that the metabolism of xenobiotics, including drugs, may be altered due to changes in the expression and activity of these proteins by EH.

Drug interaction potential of the seed extract of Urtica urens L. (dwarf nettle).

Dwarf nettle (Urtica urens) seed extract was examined in vivo in the rat for its potential to modulate drug metabolizing enzymes including aminopyrine N-demethylase (APND; CYP2C6), aniline 4-hydroxylase (A4H; CYP2E1), nitrosodimethylamine N-demethylase (NDMA-ND; CYP2E1) erythromycin N-demethylase (ERND; CYP3A1) CYP2D1/2 and glutathione S-transferase (GST). RT-PCR data and western blotting studies clearly demonstrated that CYP2C6 and CYP2E1 mRNA levels were substantially increased after Urtica treatment, while the level of CYP3A1 mRNA decreased and that of CYP2D1/2 remained unchanged. Urtica treatment significantly induced GST activity in the liver, lung and kidney (66-, 46- and 31-fold, respectively) while decreasing that of APND (35-, 61- and 94-fold) and NDMA-ND (23, 28 and 54-fold). ERND activity in liver was reduced 45-fold, but increased in the lung and kidney (78- and 144-fold) after Urtica treatment. These results indicate that Urtica seed extract may have the potential to inhibit and/or induce the metabolism of certain co-administered drugs.